A roundup of news on sporting events, people and places in Southeast Michigan by columnist Jim Evans.

Tuesday, July 2, 2013

The 'Animal' will soon be roaming nearby

He
drooled. He was basically monosyllabic. He ate the stuffing out of turnbuckles.
His tongue was the color of Kermit’s derriere. He was professional wrestler George
“The Animal” Steele.

He
was a high school teacher. He coached wrestling and football at Madison High in
suburban Detroit. He was a college grad with a master’s degree. He spoke
eloquently. He is Jim Myers.

George
“The Animal” Steele and Jim Myers are one and the same.

Jim
Myers has published a book about his unique life. Appropriately enough, it is
titled “Animal.”

His
wrestling career spanned the decades. He roomed with Haystacks Calhoun. He
battled Hulk Hogan. He took on everyone from Bruno Sammartino to Randy “Macho
Man” Savage.

His
most serious battles were not inside the ring at all. He has dealt with
dyslexia his entire life. They almost blew Taps his way a couple of times due
to the ravages of Crohn’s disease.

Myers
will be in Michigan later this month signing his book. He will be at the Barnes
@ Noble stores in the state in the third week of July.

His
first stop will be at the Ann Arbor Barnes & Noble (in the Huron Village at
3235 Washtenaw Avenue) on Monday, July 15. The signings begin at 7 p.m. On
Thursday, July 18, Myers will be at the Royal Oak Barnes & Noble store on
Main Street. Once again, the signing session starts at 7. On Friday, July 19,
Myers will be at the Barnes & Noble in Grand Rapids at 7 p.m., and on
Saturday, July 20, he will be at the Barnes & Noble store in Troy. (396
John R Road). He will be visiting at 2 p.m.